As an editor at a hip woman’s magazine, Diana Hudson is expected to spot mistakes and erase them. But when her boss discovers she’s been applying the same critical eye to her love life, she decides it’s time for Diana to re-edit her style manual for love.

She offers Diana the chance to write her first story for the magazine–the EX files–a series of articles about whether spending time with old flames can kindle new fires. For the aspiring writer it’s an irresistible, though admittedly awkward, opportunity — especially when her photographer and BFF Nick is sent along to document whether ”Mr. Wrong Then” might be “Mr. Right Now…” But as Nick focuses his lens on Diana’s love life, she’s not the only one who begins to see things from a different angle…

This book does not have many reviews and the few that it had said it was predictable and a bit boring.

iddlemarch Mates, book three.Emily Scarlet’s husband left her for his secretary and died in a car accidentall on the same day. Now, six months later, Emily has emerged from her chrysalis of painful memories. And to prove she has what it takes to attract a man, she’s determined to experience one perfect night of passion.An ad in the newspaper catches her eye. The Middlemarch ball presents the ideal opportunity to find a man. Emily catches the “love train” to Middlemarch and heads for one night of uncomplicated sex to wipe away her husband’s vicious taunts.Feline shape-shifter Saber Mitchell has a problem with his four boisterous younger brothers. They’re out of control. It’s too late for him, but he hopes to get his brothers mated and settled, and the ball is the perfect place to introduce them to marriageable women.Unbridled sex is the last thing Saber’s expecting, but one glimpse at Emily Scarlet changes his mind. Sex with her is a necessity. They dance. They make love. One thing is cleara single night isn’t enough. Saber must have her for his mate, but Emily isn’t so easy to convince…or trust.

This actually doesn’t sound terrible. The biggest complaint was how quickly the couple came together but people commented on how they enjoyed the banter, the interaction between the brothers, and the sexiness of the relationship. There was something about the reviews that made me think of Kristen Ashley. So, of course, I downloaded it.

Violet Redmond’s family and fortune might be formidable and her beauty and wit matchless—but her infamous flare for mischief keeps all but the most lionhearted suitors at bay. Only Violet knows what will assuage her restlessness: a man who doesn’t bore her to tears, and a clue to the fate of her missing brother. She never dreamed she’d find both with a man whose own pedigree is far from impeccable.

“Savage” is what the women of the ton whisper about the newly styled Earl of Ardmay—albeit with shivers of pleasure. Born an English bastard, raised on the high seas, he’s on a mission to capture a notorious pirate for vengeance. But while Violet’s belief in her brother’s innocence maddens him, her courage awes him . . . and her sensuality finally undoes him. Now the man who once lost everything and the girl who has everything to lose are bound by a passion that could either end in betrayal . . . or become everything they ever dreamed.

But although I Kissed an Earl is not without flaws, there’s no question that it is one of my favorite books of the year thus far. That is at least partly because the conflict between Flint and Violet – he wants to kill her beloved brother; she wants to save her brother from the man she loves – is on a scale not often seen in today’s romances, and that depth of conflict gives the book heartrending poignancy at times.

Is he really a Viking with a vampire’s bite? An angel with the body of a thunder god? A lone wolf with love on his mind? Alexandra Kelly, his prey, thinks Vikar Sigurdsson is either flat-out crazy or he’s trying to maneuver her into his bed—which is hardly where a professional reporter should conduct an interview, tempting as that prospect might be.

And some men are too good to be true . . .

Until Vikar does something a teensy bit unexpected, and Alex begins to wonder whether her mystery man could really be everything he says he is: a Viking Vampire Angel on a thousand-year-long mission with his pack of sinful brothers—and a man who’s finally found the woman of his dreams. By then, Vikar is already wrapping his chiseled arms around Alex’s body . . . and sinking his wicked fangs right into her neck. If this is sin, why does it feel so good?

As Brian pointed out yesterday in the comments, the first book in the Vangels series is on sale. If you can’t tell by the description, you need to expect light and ridiculous.

Share this:

Like this:

Jane Litte is the founder of Dear Author, a lawyer, and a lover of pencil skirts. She spends her downtime reading romances and writing about them. Her TBR pile is much larger than the one shown in the picture and not as pretty.
You can reach Jane by email at jane @ dearauthor dot com

Purchased the JAL book. I read her first books long ago, but haven’t read her new ones. I’ve been meaning to read her Pennyroyal series. Although, I must admit I hate the titles and covers Avon gives its authors: I Kissed an Earl – seriously?

I bought the JAL-book (my first) on the strength of the review here at DA and did not regret it one bit! She has since become an auto-buy for me, although my favourite book in the Pennyroyal Green series is #2, Like No Other Lover.

Sponsors

Help DA Out

If you want to help DA out and you shop at one of these sites, you can use this link.to give a percentage of your purchases back to DA (usually around 7%):

Tweets

Copyright

FTC Disclaimer

We do not purchase all the books we review here. Some we receive from the authors, some we receive from the publisher, and some we receive through a third party service like Net Galley. Some books we purchase ourselves. Login